Apparatus for filling molds



Nov. 3, 1970 Filed Jan. 5, 1968 E. L. GLASS APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS 5 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR Etzceu. L Guxss U mii ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1970 E. GLASS APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS 5 Sheets Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1968 Nov. 3, 1970 GLASS I I 3,537,1 6

v APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1968 s Sheei-Sheet a Euzcsu. L. (IL-Ass ATTORNEYS Nov. 3, 1970 ss I 3,537,156

APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS Filed Jan'. 3, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

EIZCELL' L. CiLAss i. ATTORNEYS INVENTOR 3,537,156 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 ice 3,537,156 APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS Ercell L. Glass, 7107 53rd St., Tampa, Fla. Filed Jan. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 695,481

Int. Cl. B2811 13/00 US. Cl. -103 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for depositing a predetermined charge of concrete into a mold, wherein a weigh lorry moves from beneath a mixer to mold traversing position. The weigh lorry rests upon a scale while being loaded, and the mixer discharge is automatically cut off when a known quantity of material is in the lorry. The discharge of material from the lorry and movementof the lorry over the mold are automatically controlled to ensure even and uniform distribution of material in the mold. The lorry carries a. screed to preshape and compact material in the mold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for filling molds with concrete, and particularly to apparatus which Will deliver uniform quantities of concrete to the mold.

Although the apparatus of the present invention can be used for filling any type open top mold, the structure disclosed herein was designed especially for use with molds which are to be filled with a very dry mix to a level above the top of the mold, shaped, tamped and vibrated to attain a dense casting. The concrete is shape retaining immediately after the casting operation. An automatic machine to make castings of this kind is shown in United States Patent to Baker No. 3,305,907.

Ideally, in making castings of this type, the amount of concrete placed in the mold should be the same for each casting, and should be uniformly distributed throughout the mold. A preshaping should be possible with little or no waste in order to have an economical operation.

A number of machines have been proposed for filling molds with measured quantities of concrete, but difficulty has been experienced in even distribution of the concrete throughout the mold. One prior patent, the patent to Baker No. 3,274,659 attempted to solve the problem by using a belt to carry a uniform layer of material over the mold and then, through the use of a traveling blade, the material was moved off of the belt into the mold. The movement of the loaded belt followed by brushing of the material from the belt is not as rapid an operation as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the present invention is to pro vide apparatus which can automatically fill molds with predetermined charges of concrete to a level above the top of the mold, and preshape the material above the mold top plane.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide mold filling apparatus which actually weighs a load of concrete for delivery to a mold, and limits the load to a predetermined weight.

Another object is the provision of such apparatus wherein a weigh lorry, after receiving a predetermined concrete mold charge, travels to a mold position and distributes the concrete evenly throughout the mold cavity.

Yet another object is to provide the weigh lorry with a trailing screed to preshape the deposited concrete as the weigh lorry moves along the mold.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for filling molds wherein a traveling distributor can receive a predetermined load, travel over a mold at such speed and with such discharge rate that the mold will be evenly filled, and deposit an excess of material above the mold top level centrally of the mold along its full length, and screed the excess to predetermined shape with a minimum of spillage and waste.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus for automatically filling a mold with concrete, which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG.- 2 is a side view of the apparatus, with the concrete mixer removed an dthe pallet, or mold, supporting tracks being shown in section, as viewed substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the machine, viewed from the mixer end, with parts of the scale dial casing broken away to show interior structure;

FIG. 4 is a still greater enlarged fragmentary view of the weigh lorry and its supporting track in position over one end of a pallet being filled, parts of the lorry and the pallet being shown in section;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat similar view to FIG. 4 but with the weigh lorry advanced further along the pallet and the screed overlying the concrete in the pallet end;

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic layout of the electrical control system for the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, mold filling apparatus 1 overlies, in part, a pallet, or mold, track 2, along which pallets 3 are moved to filling position, and from filling posititon to a casting station which is not shown but could be similar to the casting station shown in the above referred to patent to Baker No. 3,305,907.

However, in the present apparatus the filling operation is entirely separated from the casting station. The pallet track 2 can be made in any desired way to support pallets as they are moved to various preparation stations and then to a filling station, or position. The track shown consists of spaced rows of pedestals 4 supporting a pair of rails 5. The rails are spaced apart a suificientdistance to underlie pallets 3 near their ends. The pallets can be moved along the rails in any desired manner.

The molds shown are, in fact, pallets used in the making of concrete crossties for railways. They include an elongated body 6 having a longitudinally extending, trough-like mold cavity 7. The ends of the body are closed by headers 8.

In normal operation, the pallets will be moved along the track 2 to stations where they are cleaned, oiled, cables inserted in openings in the pallet headers and strung along the pallets, the cable ends anchored and the cables stressed and then moved to the filling position.

The filling apparatus is constructed upon a suitable frame 9 which includes suitable vertical members, or legs 10, connected at their tops by cross-members 11. Suspended below the cross-mem 'bers 11 for the greater portion of the frame length are I-beams 12, which are arranged in spaced parallel relation to form rails upon which the distributing receptacle, or weigh lorry, will run. The I-beams extend entirely across the length of pallets on the pallet track and project considerable distances on either side of the pallet ends.

At one end of the (frame structure, the frame top is raised considerably above the cross-members 11, and is topped by a rectangular supporting frame 13. The supporting frame has the scale beams 14 suspended from it. The lowermost of these arms are pivotally connected by links 15 to scale tracks 16, which include a pair of spaced I-beams 17 held in parallel relation by cross braces 18. The scale tracks are at the same height, and the same spacing as the I-beams 12 forming the principal rails of the weigh lorry track structure. The upper-most scale beam, or the extension lever, has its outer end connected to a scale 19 mounted upon its own frame 20.

It is immaterial to the present inventiton what type scale is to be used. Therefore, the illustration simply indicates the extension lever connected to a draft rod 21 which isfixed to a rack 22. The rack rotates a pinion 23 connected to a pointer 24. Mounted adjacent the path of rack travel there is a limit switch 25 so positioned that the rack will close the normally open switch when it reaches a predetermined point in its downward travel.

To one side of the apparatus frame, and directly opposite the scale tracks 16, there is a separate frame 26 which supports a concrete mixer 27. The mixer has a delivery chute 28 for discharging mixed concrete.

The I-beams 12, together with the I-beams 17 of the scale tracks, form a trackway along which a weigh lorry 29 is adapted to travel. This provides a continuous track so that the weigh lorry can move to positions below the mixer delivery chute 28 and over the pallet track 2. The weigh lorry consists of a hopper 30, which has spaced pairs of upwardly extending legs 31 at the front and back, the lower ends of the legs being connected to the top portions of the hopper. Each leg 31 carries a flanged wheel 32 to ride upon the lower, confronting flanges of the I- beams 12 and 17. The flanges of the wheels abut the edges of the I-beams to prevent transverse movement of the wheels relative to the track members. The weigh lorry is moved along the tracks by means of a chain 33 which is connected to the front of the lower structure, passes around the sprocket 34 mounted at the end of the frame 9 adjacent the mixer, extends the full length of the frame and around a sprocket 35 at the pallet track end of the frame, and has its opposite end connected to the back of the weigh lorry structure. Sprocket 35 is mounted upon a shaft 36 which carries a second sprocket 37. A drive chain 38 from a motor 39 passes around the sprocket 37 to provide the driving force for chain 33. Rotation of the motor in one direction will cause the weigh lorry to move along the tracks from the mixer end to the pallet track end, and operation of the motor in the opposite direction will return the weigh lorry to its original position.

The bottom of the weigh lorry hopper 30 is open, as at 40, and is surrounded by a plate 41 which projects forwardly of the hopper end in a horizontal plane. Plate 41 has its edges secured to angle members 42, which project below plate 41 and have their horizontal flanges connected to a second plate 43. The forward, or leading portion 44, is spaced below plate 41 and parallel with it, so that the two spaced plates and the angle members define a slide 45 in which a concrete controlling gate 46 moves to open or close the open bottom of the hopper. The extended ends of the angle members 42 are joined by a cross brace 47, which supports a fluid cylinder 48. The piston rod 49 of the assembly is connected to the gate 46, so that actuation of the cylinder will move the gate 46 along the slide to open and close the hopper opening. Suitable braces 50 may connect the angle members 42 and the upper portion of the hopper to support the load of the cylinder assembly.

Plate 43 also extends from the trailing side of the weigh lorry hopper to form a screed 51. The center portion of the underside of screed 51 is recessed to the cross sectional contour desired to be placed upon the top of the concrete member formed in the pallet. In the form shown, the recess has upwardly converging sides 52 and a flat top 53. The recess in the screed is sufliciently wide to span the mold cavity 7 in the pallet, as is shown in FIG. 7.

Movement of the weigh lorry along the tracks is cont"olled by a plurality of limit switches located along the tracks and contacted by the weigh lorry during its travel. These include a limit switch 54, located at the far end of the track and actuated by the lorry as it completes its travel with a load of concrete, a limit switch 55, which controls the weigh lorry door and is positioned to be operated just as the weigh lorry outlet arrives over the end of a pallet, a limit switch 56, which is a time delay switch and causes the weigh lorry to pause momentarily as it first arrives over the pallet, and a limit switch 57, which is operated by the weigh lorry to close the weigh lorry door as it reaches the end of its travel over the pallet, and a limit switch 58, which is struck and operated to stop weigh lorry motion when the weigh lorry is properly located on the scale tracks 16.

FIG. 8 shows diagrammatically the electric circuits which include the above mentioned switches and control the operation of the entire apparatus. The circuit includes a power line 59 and a return line 60. All of the circuits are bridged across these two lines. The power source is opened or closed by means of a switch 61 included in the power line 59. Mixer 27 is started by means of a coil 62 which is included in a circuit from line 59, through line 63, manual stop switch 64, line 65, relay coil switch 66, line 67, starter coil 68 and line 69 to return line 60. There is a bridge wire 70 extending from the stop switch 64 to line 67 in which a manual start switch 71 is located. When the switch 71 is closed, the circuit is completed from line 59, lines 63, switch 64, line 70, switch 71, line 67, coil 68, and lines 69 and 60. As soon as the coil 68 is energized, it closes switch 66 and the switch 71 can be released.

The mixer door controlling flow of mixed concrete out of delivery chute 28 is opened by means of a cylinder controlled by a solenoid valve. The valve is operated to open the door by means of a circuit through line 59, line 72, manual switch 73, line 74, valve solenoid 75, line 76 and return line 60. The closing of switch 73 will activate the solenoid to open the mixer door. The door can be closed either manually or automatically. If manual operation is desired, a selector switch 77 is set for manual operation, and a manually closed switch 78 is depressed. This will close a circuit from line 59 through line 79, a selector switch 77, line 80, manual switch 78, line 81, solenoid 82, line 83 and return line 60. If automatic operation is desired, the selector switch is set on the automatic contact and the circuit is from line 59 through lines 79, selector switch 77, line 84, limit switch 25 which is in the scale head, lines 85 and 81, coil 82, line 83 and return line 60. With this arrangement, the switch 25 is operated automatically when a predetermined weight of concrete is in the weigh lorry.

The weigh lorry is operated to travel across the apparatus in the back by means of circuit switch including a selector switch 86, the limit switches 54, 56 and 58, and starter coils 87 and 88 for the weigh lorry motor 39. When the selector switch 86 is set to start motor 39 to move the weigh lorry from the scale position to the far side of the track, the circuit will be from power line 59 through line 89, selector switch 86, line 90, limit switch 54, line 91, starter coil 87, line 92 and return line 60. When the motor has started, it will continue in operation until the weigh lorry reaches the far side of the track and strikes switch 54 and opens it to break the circuit. To return the weigh lorry to its original position, selector switch 86 is moved to the reverse position and the circuit is from line 59 through line 89, switch 86, line 93, time delay limit switch 56, line 94, motor reversing coil 86, line 95, limit switch 58, line 96 and return line 60. When this circuit is energized the weigh lorry will begin its return trip and, when it gets over the end of the underlying pallet, will pause momentarily due to the opening of the circuit at time delay switch-56. The weigh lorry will then start up again and move back to the scale track to receive another charge of concrete. As it reaches the end of its travel it will strike switch 58 and open the motor reversing coil 88.

As the weigh lorry'starts its return trip and arrives at the end of a pallet to be filled it will contact limit switch 57 to energize a coil 97 which operates a valve controlling fluid flow to cylinder 48 to open the weigh lorry door. This circuit includes the power line 59, line 98, coil 97, line 99, limit switch 57, line 100 and return line 60. Switch 57 is bridged by a line 101 which includes a manually operable switch 102 to enable the machine operator to open the weigh lorry door manually if he so desires. When coil 97 is energized, it closes a switch 102 which controls the operation of vibrators 103 carried by the weigh lorry. The vibrator circuit includes power line 59, line 104, vibrators 103, switch 102, line 105 and return line 60. After the weigh lorry has traversed the full length of an underlying pallet, and deposited its charge of concrete, switch 55 is contacted to close a circuit through coil 106 to reverse the door closing piston control valve and stop the operation of the weigh lorry vibrators. The circuit for this includes line 59, line 107, line 108, switch 55, line 109, coil 106, line 110 and return line 60. Energization of coil 106 shifts the cylinder supply valve and opens switch 102 to break the vibrator circuit. Switch 55 is bridged by a line 111 including a manually operable switch 112 for use when automatic operation of the door is not desired.

When the machine is to be used, switch 61 will first be closed to make power available to the several control circuits. Starter button 71 will be depressed to start the mixer 27 and to establish the holding circuit through switch 66 to keep the mixer in operation. The mixer will continue to function until the stop button 64 is pressed.

At the beginning of the operation, the weigh lorry should be at its position on the scale track 16 ready to receive a charge of mixed concrete from the mixer. Button 73 will be depressed to energize the mixer door valve coil 75 and open the door. This will allow mixed concrete to be delivered through chute 28 into the weigh lorry 29. If manual operation of the door closing is to be employed, selector switch 77 will be set for manual operation and, when scale 19 registers a predetermined weight, button 78 will be depressed to energize coil 82 and close the mixer door. If the automatic operation is desired, however, the selector switch 77 will be set at the automatic position. With the circuit in this condition, concrete will fiow into the weigh lorry and its weight will be indicated by the scale. As the scale pointer 24- is moved by its pinion 23-, the pinion operating rack 22 will be moving downward. When exactly the proper weight of concrete is in the weigh lorry, the rack will strike and close limit switch 25 to energize coil 88 and close the mixer door. This operation will entirely eliminate human error, and assure precise loads of mix each time the mixer door is opened.

When the lorry is filled, selector switch 86 will be moved to the forward position and the motor 39 will be activated to begin movement of chain 33 to draw the lorry off of the scale tracks 16 and along I-beams 12 to the full end of the I-bearn track. When the weigh lorry reaches the end of the track, it will strike limit switch 54 and stop motor 39. When a pallet to be filled is in position on pallet track 2 directly below the weigh lorry path, the operator will move selector switch 86 to the reverse position to energize coil 88 and start motor 39 in the reverse direction. As the weigh lorry begins its reverse movement and its open bottom 40 moves over the end of the pallet mold trough, two things happen. Switch 57 is closed to energize coil 97 and open the weigh lorry gate 46 and close switch 102 to begin operation of the weigh lorry vibrators 103. Switch 56 is a time delay switch and will cause the weigh lorry to pause momentarily over the pallet end to fill the end before moving on down the pallet while delivering a uniform charge. The amount of concrete delivered is in excess of the capacity of the mold trough and rises above the top of the pallet. The excess, however, is confined Within the recess of the screed 51 so that it is shaped to the contour of the screed recess and compacted slightly. This leaves the concrete in the general shape of the top mold section at a casting station and substantially eliminates spillage and waste. The speed of travel of the weigh lorry and the rate of delivery of concrete mix to the pallet will be so related that the weigh lorry will have discharged its full load as it moves over the end of the pallet. This will insure a uniform deposit and an exact weight and size of the article to be cast. When the far end of the pallet is reached, switch is closed to energize coil 106 and close the weigh lorry gate and, at the same time, open switch 102 to stop the weigh lorry vibrators.

Following this, the weigh lorry continues on its return movement to the scale track 16 and, when it reaches the track and is in position to receive another charge, it contacts, and opens switch 58 to stop operation of the drive motor 39. The weigh lorry is now in position to be reloaded and a new cycle can be instituted.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the specific details of structure shown and described are merely by way of illustration and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for manufacturing concrete articles and having means for moving a plurality of molds along a production line sequentially past a series of operating stations, an apparatus at one of said stations for filling said molds with concrete, said apparatus comprising a frame extending substantially at right angles across said line, a track supported by the frame, a lorry mounded on the track for movement therealong between a loading position at the end of the track remote from said line and an unloading position at the end of said track over said line, means adjacent the track at said loading position to deliver mixed concrete to said lorry, means responsive to a predetermined concrete load being received in the lorry, and drive means to cause the lorry to move along the track from the loading to unloading positions and return, a screed carried by the lorry on the trailing side thereof during the return trip, said lorry unloading concrete into said molds on the return trip.

2. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the lorry has a bottom outlet for concrete and a movable gate controlling the outlet, and means to open the movable gate when, on the return trip, the lorry is over one end of the mold on the line and close it when the lorry is over the other end of the mold.

3. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lorry outlet is of such dimensions that the rate of concrete delivery from the lorry outlet and the rate of lorry travel over the mold are such that concrete delivered to a mold rises above the mold sites, and further comprising a screed carried by the lorry on the trailing side of the lorry during the return trip to ride over and compact the concrete in the mold and shape the excess concrete above the mold sides.

4. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 2 wherein, a portion of the track adjacent the loading position is separate from the remainder of the track, weighing means having a weigh arm, and means suspending said portion of the track from the weigh arm.

5. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the mixed concrete delivery means has an outlet, a gate to control said mixed concrete delivery means outlet, and said means responsive to a predetermined concrete load being received in the lorry being mounted on said portion of the track and operatively connected to close said mixed concrete delivery means gate.

6. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lorry outlet is of such dimensions that the rate of concrete delivery from the lorry outlet and the rate of lorry travel over the mold are such that concrete delivered to a mold rises above the mold sides, and said screed being carried by the lorry on the trailing side of the lorry during the return trip riding over and compacting the concrete in the mold and shaping the excess concrete above the mold sides.

7. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 6 further comprising electrical switch means responsive to movement of the lorry along the track to control the means to open and close the lorry gate. 1

8. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 7 further comprising means on said portion of the track in the path of movement of the lorry to stop the lorry drive means when the lorry is on said portion of the track and beneath the mixed concrete delivery means outlet.

9. An apparatus for filling molds with concrete as claimed in claim 8 further comprising means along the track adjacent the track end over said line and in the path of lorry movement to stop the lorry.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,507 9/1889 Miller 177-163 1,549,549 8/1925 Hoeflfken m 214--18 2,858,594 11/ 1958 Eirich 25-2 3,032,851 5/1962 Gibbs 252 3,060,540 10/1962 Lapidus 2541 3,274,659 9/1966 Baker 25-403 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner B. D. TOBOR, Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

